Bladed structure and method of producing same



y 1939- F. J. SULLIVAN 2,157,441

BLADED STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAIE Filed Aug. '1, 193? m r 23 za 22 13 ifw ll 27 29 2 2/ v 1% 1 2 i l4 v i 20 /2--" mul 15 I l /4 l1 Ii 2 7 Patent d M 9, 1939 1 uuirsolsrarss PATENT g re DUCING am nmnsn srrwo'rona AND ammo! or rao- 1 Mr. Sullivan, Application sum '1. m7, Serial No. 15am 'IClaims. (ones-150.8)

in an annulus about the central axis of rotation,.

it is extremely desirable to be able to conveniently and accurately position the individual blades with respect to each other and to the rotor axis,

so that a well balanced rotor assemblage operable at high speed results. In such rotor structures, inlets for air are ordinarily provided at opposite ends of the rotor, and the blades are susg pended from a central drive shaft by means of a disk like support located between the blade ends. these ends being provided with spacer and stiffening rings which also form guides for conductingthe air outwardly through the spaces be- 25 tween the successive blades. Since all of the main elements of these rotor assemblages are adapted to be formed of material having substantially uniform thickness, it is desirable to construct these elements of sheet metal with the so aid oi'punches and dies, and to interconnect. the

same to produce a strong and durable final assemblage, by fusion of metal as by welding.

My present invention therefore contemplates provision of an improved method of fabricating '35 such bladed rotors from sheet metal with the aid oi punches and dies, the elements thus produced being rapidly and conveniently joined by welding to provide accurately formed and well balanced durable rotor assemblages 01' like and in- 40 terchangeable construction.

Another specific object of my invention is to provide an improved method of producing bladed structures from metal staiupings, quickly and at minimum cost. A further specific object of the invention is the production of a new and useful r'ot'or assemblage which is simple and compact in con-' struction, and which is moreover highly eflicient in operation. 1

An additional specific object of my invention istheprovision of a neat appearing well built rotor structure wherein the blades are accurately spaced and handy coniined so as'to provide for '.perfect dynamic balancing. These and other specific allel'to each other and concentric with the rotor obiects and g as tages of the present improvement will be apparent from the following detaileddescription.

A clear conception of the several steps involved in the production of my improved structures, and of the construction and operation of rotor assemblages embodying the invention, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a part sectional 'view of the structure and jigs for efiecting initiai assembly of my improved rotors, showing thecentralrotor support and several blades and the end rings in position:

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the manufacturing and rotor assemblages of Fig. 1, taken along the line 2-2;

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through one of the completed rotor; structures built in accordance with my pr sent invention;

I Mg. 4 iso part sectional end. elevation of the rotor structurejof Fig. 3, the view being taken along the line 4-8 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a fragment of one of the blades and a section through the adjacent end ring, showing these elements dismantled; and

Fig. 8 is a similarly enlarged similar view of the blade and end ring. showing the same finallyassembled and united.

WhileI have shown and described my invention herein, as being specifically and advantageously applicable to a sheet metal fan or blower rotor assemblage oi a particular time, it is" not my intention to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope, since some of the novel steps or features may be more generally applicable to other types of assemblages. Q

Referring to the drawing, the improved fan rotor which is adapted to be quickly and accurately assembled with Jigs such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is illustrated fully assembled in Figs. 8 and 4 and comprises in general a central circular support consisting of ahub B and a pair of oppositely dished sheet metal disks it secured to the hub; an annular series of elongated parallel rounding the central support; and a pair of slotted end ringsi3 rigldlysecured to the extreme ends of the blades II. II, and being disposed paraxis.

lone support may be located at one extreme end of the blades. The hub 8 may be formed either oi. casting or by stamping, and the disks ill which are preferably formed of sheet metal and are dished for increased strength, may be either riveted,

welded. or otherwise attached to the hub 8. The

blade engaging plates 8 are also preferably formed of sheet metal and are curved to fit the contour of the rear surfaces of the adjacent anchor blades i2, and these plates are preferably initially attached to the corresponding anchor blades by welding 30, and are subsequently attached to the periphery of the disks ill by other welding l 4, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. There may be any desired number of these blade engaging plates 9, preferably from three to six, depending upon the diameter of the rotor and the number of anchor blades l2, and the plates 9 are preferably soul-distant around the supporting disk periphery.

The individual blades Ii, i2 are all of identical construction except for the attachment ofthe plates 9 to the blades l2, and these blades may be formed either of extruded metal bar stock, or from strips of sheet metal distorted into proper shape with the aid of punches and dies. The blades ii, l2 are of uniform cross section throughout their lengths, and the opposite ends of each blade ex tend either straight across in planes perpendicular to the rotor axis, or they may be disposed at flaring angles'so asto produce outwardly enlarging passages for conducting the air between the adjacent blades. Each blade end' is also provided with notches I! such as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, for facilitating assembly thereof between the spaced end rings l3.

The two end rings ii are of identical construction except for the reversal of the blade spacing slots therein, and each of these rings is formed of a single continuous piece of sheet metal distorted to form a lateral annular'l'projection i8, and punched to provide an annular series of blade receiving slots II which pierce the projection l6.

During the operation of punching these slots ll in the rings i3, small burrs I! may be produced at the slot .ends on the opposite sides of the projection I, and the notches I! in the ends of the blades II, I! are provided for the purpose of clearing these burrs 18, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

When the various rotor elements have been Properly constructed as above described, the successive rotors may be quickly, conveniently and accurately assembled with the aid of jig equipment such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and in the following manner. The special equipment comprises a suitable base plate it having an upright cylindrical post 20 secured thereto and provided with upper portions 21, 22 of lesser diameter, the latter of which portions is screw-threaded for the reception of a clamping wing nut 23; a lower jig disk 2B adapted to rest upon the base plate it and having a central bore rotatably engaging the larger portion of the post 2% and being provided with a peripheral flange 28; and an upper similar jig disk 21 adapted to rest upon the upper end of the medial post portion ti and having a central bore 28 rotatably engaging the liest upper post portion 2'24, the disk 2'! being provided with a peripheral flangem. v

when ug this'jig blage to initially assemble a bladed rotor, one of the end rings i3 may be positioned upon the peripheral flange 26 of the lower jig disk 24 which is rotatably mounted centrally upon the post 20 and rests upon the base plate It. An assembled central support including a hub 8 and disks ill, may then be rotatably mounted centrally upon the post portion 2i above the lower disk. The upper jig disk 21 with another end ring l3 coacting therewith, may then be applied centrally to the upper smallest post portion 22 and held in place'by the wing nut 23. After the central blade support and the end rings i3 have been thus positioned, the anchor blades i2 with the plates 9 attached thereto, may be slid into position within the alined slots ll of the spaced rings l3, thereby causing the inner ends of the plates 9 to overlap the adjacent peripheral portions of the disks ll]. Theclamping nut 23 may then be tightened to clamp the rings i3 against the blade ends, whereupon welds 3i may be applied to the outermost ends of the blades l2 and to the adjacent portions of the rings to firmly unite these elements. The plates 9 may be thereafter firmly attached to the disks ill, by the application of the welds i4, thus firmly and pern1anently uniting the blades i2, end rings i3, and supporting disks it.

After the supporting disks ill, blades i2, and rings i3 have been thus initially united, the rotor structure may be completed by sliding the remaining blades i2 inwardly into the alined slots ii of the end rings it until their medial portions engage the periphery of the disks Iii, and thereafter finally and permanently securing the ends of the blades ii to the rings by other welds 3i applied to these elements. During such application of the blades Ii, the rotor structure may be revolved about the post 20 and the successive welds 3i may thus be conveniently and quickly applied. This procedure should be continued until all of the blades i i, i2 have been rigidly attached to the end rings i3, whereupon the rotor will be completed, and it is to be noted that the notches ii at the ends of the blades ii, i2 will greatly facilitate positioning of the blades within the end ring slots I! without danger of interference by the burrs I! which may have been formed onthe rings i3 during the slot punching operation.

From the foregoing specific description of the several steps involved in the improved method, it will be apparent that my invention provides an extremely simple and highly eflective process for producing bladed rotor structures in succession. The formation of the rotor parts including the disks l0, plates 9, blades H, l2, and end rings I3 91 sheet metal with the aid of punches and dies, obviously enables the production of these parts at minimum cost, and also provides for interchangeability of like parts. While the initial attachment of the plates 9 to the anchor blades iii greatly facilitates preliminary assemblage of the structures, these plates 9 may also be initially attached to the disks it and subsequently secured to the anchor blades i2. The rotatable mounting for eflecting assemblage of these rotors is quite important and desirable when the ends of the blades ii, 52 are secured to the rings it; by welding, since this rotation of the assemblage p ts the welder to readily proceed from one blade to the next during the application of the welds 8i, without changing his position around the rotor axis. The final assemblage produced by the-present improved method, is obviously extremely durable in construction and is also well hated by virtue of the symmetrical disposition of the plates 9, blades II, II, and disks II about the central axis of the driving hub I. By matching the ends of the blades II, II, the end rings ll may be brought snugly against the blade ends prior, to application of the welds 3i, and during applicationoi these welds, it has been found that the rings I! are drawn into snug 'engagement with the blade ends as the welds cool.

'The provision or the notches I! also avoids necessity of grinding the burrs I! from therings i8 prior to final assemblage of the rotor structures,

and my present invention has proven highly successful in actual commercial production oi rotors oi this general type.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact steps of the process or to the precise details of construction herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. The method of producing a bladed structure having an annular series of blades provided with opposite end rings and mounted on a central support, which comprises, initially slotting and.

, supporting the end rings in parallel spaced relation, inserting several circumferentially spaced anchor blades within alined slots of the rings and permanently attaching these blades to the rings, attaching the anchor blades to the periphery of the central support, and finally insertin the remaining blades within other alined slots oi the rings and permanently attaching these remaining blades to the rings in substantial contact with the support. I

2. The method of producing a bladed structure having an annular series of blades provided with opposite end rings and mounted on 'a central support, which comprises, initia ly positioning the.

end rings in parallel spaced relation, insertin several circumierentially spaced anchor blades.

between the rings and permanently welding these blades to the rings, attaching the anchor blades to the periphery of the central support, and

finally inserting the remaining blades between the rings andpennanently attaching these remaining blades to the rings, in substantial contact with the support.

serting the remaining blades between the rings and permanently attaching these remaining blades to the rings in substantial contact with r the support.

4. The method of producing a bladed structure having an annular series ofblades provided with opposite end rings and mounted on a central support, which comprises, initially slotting and positioning a pair of and rings on opposite sides of a central support, positioning the ends ot several anchor blades within circumferentially spaced alined slots of the rings and welding theends of these blades to the rings, welding backing plates to the anchor blades and to the central support, and finally welding the ends otthe remaining blades within other alined slots of the end rings. 5. The method of producing a bladed structure having an annular series oi blades provided with opposite end rings and mounted on a central support, which comprises, initially slotting andpositioning a pair of end rings on opposite sides o! a central support, positioningthe ends of several anchor blades within circumferentialiy spaced alined slots of the rings and welding the ends of these blades to the rings, welding backing plates to the anchor blades and to the central support, and finally welding the ends 01 the remaining blades within other alined slotsof' the end rings around and in substantial contact with the central support.

6. The method of producing a bladed structure having an annular series of blades provided with opposite end rings and mounted on a central support, which comprises, initially forming end rings with laterally extending serially slotted annular projections, preliminarily positioning a pair of these end rings on opposite sides of a central circular support, inserting the opposite ends of several circumferentially spaced anchor 'blades within alined slots of the end rings and welding the blade ends to the rings, welding backing plates to the anchor blades so that the inner portions of the plates project over the periphery of the central support, welding the backing plates to the central support, and finally welding the opposite ends of other blades within other alined slots of the ring 7. The method of producing a bladed, structure having an annular series of blades provided with opposite end rings and mounted on a central support, which comprises, initially forming end rings with laterally extending serially slotted annular projections, preliminarily positioning a v pair of these and rings on opposite sides oi a central circular support, inserting the opposite ends of several circumierentially spaced anchor blades within alined slots of the and rings and welding the blade ends to the rings,v welding backing plates to the anchor blades so that the inner portions of the plates project over the periphery oi the central support, welding the backing plates to the central support. and finally welding the opposite ends of other blades within other alined slots 0! the rings around and in substantial contact with the periphery oi the central support.

mam: J. SULLIVAN.- 

